By Ian Cobb/e-KNOW

Kootenay-Columbia MP David Wilks August 4 issued invitations and suggestions for all-candidate debates leading up to the Oct. 19 election.

However, at least two of his challengers, NDP candidate Wayne Stetski and Green Party candidate Bill Green, say the first-term Parliamentarian is late to the dance as both candidates suggested a month ago that debates should be held in eight communities in the riding, and created the All Candidates Debate Committee. Wilks said then he wasn’t focusing on planning debates until the writ was actually dropped, citing being too busy at the time to join the committee.

“Voting is a solemn obligation. The conduct of formal debates should reflect that responsibility and be encouraged by organizations that are non-partisan. To facilitate understanding and comparison of the differences between parties, structure and orderly format for candidate dialogue is of paramount importance,” stated a press release issued by former long-time Kootenay-Columbia Conservative/Reform Party MP Jim Abbott, who is serving as a senior advisor to Wilks.

Abbott noted that on July 31, the Re-elect David Wilks MP Committee issued invitations to Kootenay-Columbia Chambers of Commerce to organize and conduct all-candidate debates for the Oct. 19 election. The 90-minute all candidate forums would be between September 21 and October 2.

“Our Re-elect Committee has recommended the chambers collect concerns and questions directly from citizens before the debate, which would create efficiency and reduce duplication. The consolidation of questions from voters, assembling questions by topic would allow maximum time for the four candidates to engage in debate,” Wilks’ release outlined.

“The re-elect committee looks forward to receiving responses from the chambers before September 4 to allow all candidates time to plan their campaign travel,” the release concluded.

Former Cranbrook Mayor Stetski said Wilks’ debate suggestion showcases a “dictatorial attitude” and disinterest in engaging with the entire community.

“Weeks after Kootenay-Columbia candidates began to work with community groups to develop an all-candidates’ debate schedule that would ensure the full participation of all candidates in eight major communities across the riding, David Wilks has now issued a dictate with debate conditions. This kind of dictatorial attitude about who can host and what the format will be shows that Mr. Wilks still doesn’t understand the importance of engaging with communities and with voters,” said Stetski.

“On August 4, well after negotiations around debate schedules with community groups had commenced, Wilks is issuing his own demands; debates must be held by Chambers of Commerce and questions must be submitted in advance. Mr. Wilks says that Chambers of Commerce are the only organizations that can be considered ‘non-partisan.’ Mr. Wilks goes on to say that all questions must be gathered and vetted first. I don’t believe this is acceptable for an incumbent who wants his job back,” Stetski said, adding, “I’m happy to attend debates hosted by chambers of commerce, but I also believe that it is simply wrong to eliminate any other community group from hosting.”

Green Party Candidate Bill Green agrees.

“I am extremely disappointed in the unilateral, uncooperative and heavy-handed approach being taken by the Wilks’ campaign,” he told e-KNOW.

“Representatives of the other three campaigns have been working together and with community organizations throughout the riding, including chambers of commerce, to establish a schedule of and format for debates that works firstly for communities and secondly for candidates and campaigns. Why can’t Mr. Wilks cooperate with all parties and communities in this regard?

“It is indeed important that all-candidates debates are organized by non-partisan groups. But there are many groups besides chambers of commerce that are non-partisan. For example, the Mir Centre for Peace and the Citizen’s Climate Lobby are organizing a debate in Nelson in mid-September. Both organizations advocate for important causes, but they are also non-partisan — that is, not affiliated with a particular political party,” Green said, adding, that while chambers of commerce are effective advocates for the business community, and non-partisan, “some communities don’t have chambers of commerce, or their local chamber is too busy to take on a debate organizing and hosting role.

“According to Wilks’ criteria, these communities can’t have local debates. The debate schedule proposed by Wilks is too time-limited. An earlier start and having debates as late as October 12 provides more flexibility to accommodate community needs. Wilks’ proposed approach is too heavy-handed…hosting organizations (including chambers of commerce) should have input into the format for the debates,” Green concluded.

Stetski said he and other participating members of the All Candidates Debate Committee “have placed a priority on working with community organizations that have traditionally held all candidates debates, have the resources to ensure good attendance, and are willing to have a format that allows attendees to ask unscripted questions of all candidates.

“The All Candidates Debate Committee is also encouraging community groups to work together to host debates to ensure the widest possible attendance,” Stetski said, noting Wilks’ isn’t trying to work with the other candidates and organizations; rather, he is telling them how it will be.

“This kind of dictate shows that now that Mr. Wilks is being forced by public pressure to consider attending debates. He is attempting to use Harper-like tactics to control the public’s ability to ask him tough questions. In my view, this is too little, too late. Mr. Wilks shouldn’t be afraid to debate anyone, or to take any voter’s question. Instead, he’s trying to hide behind arbitrary rules.

“Mr. Wilks continues to behave in a way that is really disrespectful of the people of Kootenay-Columbia. This is just one more reason why citizens in this area say that it is time for a change,” Stetski concluded in an email to e-KNOW.

Liberal Party candidate Don Johnston was also asked to comment on Wilks’ debate suggestion but nothing has yet been received.

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